utopia tone 2, a shinju moment

A staple name across Soundcloud’s past few generations of underground rap and beat scenes, shinju is a German producer who’s worked with the likes of Lil Uzi Vert, SahBabii, Black Kray, and Nigo Chanel. The Garden Ave member has had a traceable influence on internet music history with an ear for heavenly & hopeful melodies and glossy sound palettes which he’s shared with the community via a beloved series of Serum preset banks.

‘utopia tone ii’ elaborates upon the world of its shiny yet organic predecessor, with a grittier twist. 127 masterful Serum 2 presets fit for a sequel are just as meticulous and mystical, but expose a rawer edge this time around. Synth basses, keys, leads, plucks, and pads from the end of time tangled up in a mossy web. The sparkling promise of the oasis breaks away as we draw closer to its fringe, overgrown roots taking hold of a once ultramodern scene, giving way to broken glitches and darker distortion amidst the subtle melody loops. 

“Each of these sounds carries a distinct beauty, telling their own story within my world.”